Detective Ross Mellinger of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department who spearheaded the investigation said information obtained concerning a February 24 burglary in Roane County led to Drennen, Brown and finally to Messer.

Five guns stolen in the Roane County burglary were recovered at Messer’s, along with a gun stolen in a 2012 Jackson County burglary. Five firearms were found wrapped in a blanket and hidden under hay in a barn, while another was found in a bathroom of the Messer residence.

Various prescription medications and medication bottles were also seized, along with some 16 bundles of cash totaling $32,641 found in gun safes in a bedroom and kitchen cabinets.

Also seized in the course of the investigation at a Ravenswood apartment was a big screen TV and X-Box games system in another burglary.